Yes — DDR4 is still worth buying in 2026 for budget gaming, office and trading PCs, because 16GB of DDR4 costs about ₹11,439 against ₹22,729 for DDR5. For a new high-end PC that you plan to upgrade for years, DDR5 on AM5 or Intel Core Ultra is still the better long-term choice.
By the TechCure India build team · Prices checked 27 September 2026 from our live in-stock catalogue, inclusive of GST. Prices change often — the product page always shows today's price.
DDR4 vs DDR5 prices today
| Capacity | DDR4 (from) | DDR5 (from) |
|---|---|---|
| 16GB | ₹11,439 | ₹22,729 |
| 32GB | ₹24,669 | ₹46,899 |
Why DDR5 got so expensive
Memory makers have moved production towards high-bandwidth memory for AI servers. Analysts at IDC have put Indian RAM prices at roughly two and a half to three times earlier levels, and a weaker rupee adds to the cost of imports. DDR4 is older, simpler memory, so its price has risen less.
Where DDR4 still makes sense
- Budget gaming: a Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5 12th–14th gen on DDR4 frees money for a better graphics card.
- Trading and office PCs: capacity matters far more than memory speed.
- Upgrading an existing DDR4 PC: adding RAM is the cheapest speed-up.
When DDR5 is worth it
- New AM5 or Intel Core Ultra builds — these platforms only support DDR5.
- Heavy video editing, 3D rendering and AI work that benefit from memory bandwidth.
- Builds you plan to keep and upgrade for five years or more.
Our recommendation
If your budget is under ₹1 lakh, a DDR4 platform usually gives more performance per rupee today. Compare in our RAM collection, read why DDR5 costs double and the best gaming CPU under ₹25,000.
Products in this guide
Acer DDR4 Memory UD100 16GB 3200MHZ UDIMM CL22View product →
Crucial RAM 16GB DDR5 4800MHz CL40 Desktop MemoryView product →
Crucial 32gb 3200mhz Ddr4View product →
Crucial RAM 32GB DDR5 4800MHz CL40 Desktop MemoryView product →
Frequently asked questions
Is DDR4 obsolete in 2026?
No. DDR4 platforms are still sold and supported, and they are the cheaper choice while DDR5 prices stay high.
Can I use DDR4 in a DDR5 motherboard?
No. The slots are different; a motherboard supports either DDR4 or DDR5, not both.
How much faster is DDR5 for gaming?
In most games the difference is small compared with the graphics card; it matters more in some CPU-heavy games and creative work.
Will DDR5 prices come down?
Industry forecasts expect memory prices to stay high into 2027.
Which platforms support DDR4?
AMD AM4 (Ryzen 5000 and earlier) and many Intel 12th–14th gen motherboards. AM5 and Intel Core Ultra are DDR5 only.
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